Visit to Pegasus Farm with Jenny Macklin

Posted by Andrew Leigh MP5sc on December 06, 2011

I visited Pegasus Farm today, a riding school for the disabled located in Holt in my electorate, with Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. We spoke with children, parents, teachers, disability service providers and volunteers about the opportunities available under the Gillard Government's plan for a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Pegasus Riding for the Disabled of the ACT is a not-for-profit community organisation that provides equestrian activities for people with a disability. Pegasus's sporting, recreational and therapeutic programs provide physical, social and educational benefits for people with a disability.

Media Release

JENNY MACKLIN MP

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services

and Indigenous Affairs

ANDREW LEIGH MP

Member for Fraser

Progressing a National Disability Insurance Scheme

Today the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, joined the Member for Fraser, Andrew Leigh at Pegasus Farm to celebrate the Government’s commitment to a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Ms Macklin and Mr Leigh met local children with disability from Monash Primary School at the riding school who could benefit from an NDIS.

The Prime Minister announced the Australian Government’s latest plans to progress a National Disability Insurance Scheme on International Day of People with Disability on Saturday. These include establishing a new agency to lead the Commonwealth’s design work for a launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme and an additional $10 million for practical projects that look at how to support people with disability and their carers and disability service providers, including care workers, make the transition to an NDIS.

Ms Macklin updated staff and families at Pegasus Farm on the Government’s progress to lay the foundations for an NDIS.

“We know that people in Canberra strongly support reform of disability care and support. They support our work to lay the foundations for a National Disability Insurance Scheme,” Ms Macklin said.

“The Commonwealth, states and territories are putting our shoulders to the wheel on this one. We’ve all agreed to deliver the foundations we need for a scheme by mid-2013.”

Foundation reforms need to be delivered to make disability services “NDIS-ready”. They include a common assessment tool to determine eligibility for support, national quality standards and a strategy to boost the disability workforce.

Mr Leigh said he was pleased with the interest local residents had shown in an NDIS and was determined to keep the momentum going.

“An NDIS will mean better support for people with disability, their families and carers here in my electorate and right across Australia,” Mr Leigh said.

“It means people with disability will have more control over the support they receive, and are able to access care that meets their needs – so they can participate in school, work and the community to their full potential.

“This is a true Labor reform. We’ve always been about making sure no Australian is left behind, and that everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential.”